The typical owner-occupied home in Van Buren County is worth about $114,600, 45% below the Iowa median of $208,000 and 66% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,355 a year in property taxes, about 1.18% of their home's value, lower than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $61,161 a year, so the median home costs 1.9 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 82% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 43% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Van Buren County at a glance
| Van Buren County | Iowa | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,600 | $208,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,355 | $2,897 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.18% | 1.39% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $61,161 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 82% | 72% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 43% | 59% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,367 | $1,533 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 18.4% | 18.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $622 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 29.3% | 27.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1970 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 17.0% | 8.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 7,241 | 3,210,507 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Van Buren County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Van Buren County home of $114,600 with 20% down costs about $777 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $968, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $33,308 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 15% of the median Van Buren County household income of $61,161; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $210,000.
The median rent here is $622 a month, so owning the median home costs about $155 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $22,920 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $91,680 |
| Principal and interest | $617 |
| Property taxes (1.18% a year) | $113 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $48 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $777 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $4,011 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $112,524 |
| Principal and interest | $757 |
| Property taxes (1.18% a year) | $113 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $48 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $51 |
| Total per month | $968 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Van Buren County
What is the median home value in Van Buren County?
About $114,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Van Buren County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,355 a year, which is about 1.18% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Van Buren County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $777 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $33,308 a year.
More about Van Buren County
- Mortgage Refinance in Van Buren County
- Debt Relief in Van Buren County
- Home Equity Loans in Van Buren County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data